Packaging tobacco



Jan. 17, 1939. F F, RUAU I 2,144,201

PACKAGING TOBACCO Filed Oct. 26, 1936 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 hzwnfors F. F. RUAU Jan. 17, 1939..

PACKAGING TOBACCO Filed Oct. 26, 1956 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 17, 1939. F. F. RUAU PACKAGING. TOBACCO 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed 00ft. 26, 1956 InVezQ/or;

' Jan. 17, 1939. F. F. RUAU 2,144,201

PACKAGING TOBACCO Filed Oct. 26, 1936 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan.17, 1939. EFRUAU $144,201

PACKAGING TOBACCO Filed Oct. 26, 1956 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 17, 1939.

F.F.RUAU

PACKAGING TOBACCO Filed Oct. 26, 1936' v In wafers W (59; fiym 10 shees-sheet e Jan. 17, 1939. F. F. RUAU 2 ,144,201

PACKAGING TOBACCO Filed Oct. 26, 1936 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 77Tr/LS F. F. RUAU Jan. 17, 1939.

PACKAGING TOBACCO Filed 001;. 26, 1956 10 SheetsSheet 8 Jan. 17, 1939. F, RUAQ 2,144,201

' PACKAGING TOBACCO Filed Oct. 26, 1936 lOSheets-Sheet 9 fnvenfom Jan. 17, 1939. F F A 2,144,201

PACKAGING TOBACCO Filed 00$. 26, 1936 10 Sheets-Sheet l0 fur/anions Patented Jan. 17, 1939 PATENT OFFICE PACKAGING TOBACCO Flix Frdric Ruau, Deptford, London, England, assignor to Molina Machine Company, Limited,

London, England Application October 26, 1936, Serial No. 107,728 In Great Britain November 5, 1935 13 Claims.

This invention is for improvements in or relating to packaging tobacco.

According to one form of the present invention, there is provided a method of packaging tobacco by forming a continuous wrapped core of tobacco, severing the wrapped core into lengths each having a tubular wrapper, compressing the tobacco core of the severed lengths lengthwise of the tubular wrapper to provide portions of wrapping material which extend beyond the ends of the compressed core, and folding those portions of wrapping material which extend beyond the ends of the compressed core to complete the packaging of the tobacco.

In a further form of the invention, there is provided a tobacco packaging machine comprising means to sever lengths from a continuous core of tobacco enclosed in a continuous tubular wrapper, means to engage a severed length and to compress the core lengthwise of the tubular wrapper, and means to fold the end portions of the tubular, wrapper to. close the open ends thereof.

In a further form of the invention there is provided a tobacco packaging machine comprising means to form a continuous core of tobacco,

means to form a tubular wrapper about the said core, means to sever the wrapped core into lengths, means to engage the severed lengths and to compress the core lengthwise of the tubular wrapper to provide portions of wrapping material which extend beyond the ends of the compressed core, and means to fold said portions of wrapping material which extend beyond the ends of the compressed core to complete the tobacco package.

The invention will be described by way of example 'with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1a and 1b show a side elevation of a machine for packaging tobacco.

Figures 2a and 2b show a plan of Figures 1 and 1b respectively.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-.3 Figure 117.

Figure 4 is a section on thel ine 4-4 Figure lb.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 6-5 Figure 1a.

Figure 6 is a plan of cutting mechanism for severing a continuous tobacco core enclosed in a continuous tubular wrapper into lengths.

' Figure 7 is a section on the line Figure 6.

Figure 8 shows a detail of the apparatus shown in Figure 6.

Figure 9 shows apart of Figure 1a drawn to a large scale.

Figure 10 is a section on the line |0|0 Figure 9.

Figure 11 shows a detail of the apparatus shown in Figure 10.

Figure 12 is an end elevation of Figure 9.

Figure 13 is a detail to an enlarged scale showing the manner in which the tobacco core in a severed length is compressed lengthwise of the tubular wrapper.

Figures 14 to 19 inclusive show a tobacco package in various stages during its formation.

Like references refer tolike parts throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring to Figures 1a and lb, tobacco is fed from a hopper 20 and is delivered into a trough 2|. The tobacco feeding apparatus 20 is shown diagrammatically in Figures 117 and 2b, and may be of any suitable form, a preferred form of tobacco feeding apparatus being described in British Patent Specification No. 441,402.

A tobacco conveying band 22 is arrangedto move in the trough 2| and to receive the tobacco as it is showered from the tobacco feeding mechanism 20. Above the trough 2| there is arranged a pair of guides or chutes 23 and 24. chutes 23 and 24 guide the tobacco into the trough 2|. Most of the tobacco showered into the trough 2| is thrown against the chute 23 and to prevent the tobacco from piling up on that side of the trough which is opposite the chute 23, guides 25 are provided on the chute 23 to distribute the tobacco over the surface of the band 22.

The band 22 is formed into a substantially U shape whilst it is passing through the trough 2| and gradually accumulates tobacco on its surface as it passes beneath the tobacco feeding mechanism 20. Thetobacco received by the band 22 is deposited thereby on to the surface of a continuous web 26 of wrapping material which is fed from a reel 21 and which may, if desired, pass through a printing mechanism, not shown, before the tobacco is delivered to the web 26. The web 26 passes over a guide 221 and is engaged by an endless band 28 which together with folding elements referred to below is operative to fold the web 26 about the core of tobacco which is received by the continuous web 26.

The continuous tobacco core may be formed by any suitable mechanism, but in the preferred form the mechanism is similar to that described in British Patent Specification No. 440,182. In this construction the tobacco whilst being transferred from the band 22 to the web 26 is com- The pacted in order to raise the mass of the tobacco to substantially the mass which it is desired that the tobacco core shall have. In order to perform this operation, the band 22 moves at a greater speed than that of the web 26, and the point at which the tobacco is transferred from the band 22 to the web 26 is within a confined passage formed by a top plate 29, side guides 39, and a part of each of the surfaces of the band 22 and web 26 respectively. The mass of the tobacco which is moved into the confined passage is substantially at all points below the mass which it is desired that the continuous core of tobacco shall have, and as the tobacco moves from the faster moving band 22 and on to the slower moving web 26, it is, due to change of momentum, built up in the confining passage until it has acquired substantially the mass which it is desired that the tobacco core shall have. The built-up core of tobacco is continuously removed from the outlet gig the confining passage by the continuous web The tobacco core received by the web 26 is moved together with the conveyor 28 through folding mechanism 3| which is operative to fold the conveyor 26 and the continuousweb 26 about the tobacco core. As will be seen from Figure and Figures 14 to 19, the cross section of the tobacco core is in the construction being described, substantially rectangular. The folding members 3| leave one longitudinal edge of the endless web 26 upstanding, as can be seen clearly in Figure 5, and a wheel 32 which'receives adhesive from a transfer member 33 rotating in an adhesive supplying apparatus 34 is arranged to apply a line of adhesive to the upstanding edge of the web 26. A roller 35 is carried on a pivoted arm 36 and is urged by a spring towards the wheel 32 to press the upstanding edge of the web 26 against the periphery of the wheel 32.

When adhesive has been applied to the upstanding longitudinal edge of the web 26, the upstanding edge is folded so that it overlaps the other longitudinal edge of the web 26 and the continuous tobacco core is therefore enclosed in a continuous wrapper. The continuous wrapped tobacco core is then passed beneath a heating element 31 which dries the adhesive between the overlapping longitudinal edges of the continuous wrapper, and the continuous wrapped core then passes to mechanism indicated gener ally in Figure 1a. by the reference 38, this mechanism being arranged to sever the continuous wrapped core into lengths.

The severing mechanism 38 is shown more clearly in Figures 6, 7 and 8, and from these figures it will be seen that the continuous wrapped core passes from the heating element to a reciprocating ledger 39, the ledger being secured to spring plates 40, the plates 40 being also secured at 4| to the bed 42 of the machine. The ledger 39 is reciprocated by means of an eccentric 43 in a manner such, that whilst a knife 44 is cutting the continuous wrapped tobacco core, the ledger is moving in the direction of .movement of the wrapped tobacco core and at the same speed as that at which the wrapped tobacco core is moving. The knife 44 passes during the cutting operation between members 45 and 46 which form a slot 41 with which the knife cooperates to sever the continuouswrapped tobacco core into lengths. The knife 44 is carried on a spindle 48 which is mounted in a bracket .49 pivoted at 6| to the frame of the machine. -The knife 44. is rotated by a pulley 50 keyed to the spindle 49 by a plate 5| secured to the pulley 56 and projecting into a keyway 52 in the spindie 46. The pulley 50 is connected by means of belts 53 and 54 to the main drive of the machine.

To permit the knife 44 to move with the ledger 39 during the severing operation, the spindle 48 which carries the knife 44 is slidably mounted in a sleeve 55 rotatable in bearings 56 and 51, see Figure 8. The ends of the spindle 48 are engaged by plates 56 and 59 secured to the ledger 39, as can be seen from Figures 6 and 7. As the ledger moves one of the plates 58 or 59 engages the spindle 46 and moves the spindle axially. The spindle slides relatively to the plate 5|.

During the severing operation, the knife is also moved transversely of the path of the continuous wrapped tobacco core in order to cut through the core, and this movement is effected by a cam 60 which raises and lowers the knife 44 as indicated in Figure '7. To permit the knife 44 to be raised and lowered, the bracket 46 is pivoted at 6| and a tail 62 carries a cam follower 63, which engages with the cam 60. A spring 64 is provided to maintain the cam follower 63 in contact with the cam 69 and the two parts 49 and 62 together. This" provides an adjustment by means of screw 262 to compensate for the wear on the knife.

When the tobacco core is first formed and wrapped it is not passed into the ledger 39 until the wrapped core is being properly secured. The improperly secured portion is, therefore, led into a receptacle (not shown) and to remove the improperly secured portion of the tobacco core, an auxiliary cutting device having a knife 65 is carried by an arm 66 pivoted at 61 and is moved into its operative position whilst the tobacco core is stationary. The knife 65 is rotated, and during the normal running of the machine the knife is pivoted about the point 61 and is held in the position shown in Figure 1a. In this position, it will be seen that the knife 65 does not engage with the wrapped tobacco core. the knife 65 into operation, a handle 68 secured tothe arm 66' is provided to enable the arm 66 to be pivoted about the point 61.

When a length has been severed from the continuous wrapped tobacco core by the knife 44, the severed length is received on a continuously moving band 69. The band 69 is arranged to move at a speed greater than the speed at which the continuous tobacco core is moving before the knife operates to sever a length therefrom, and the severed lengths are therefore spaced apart on the band 69. Above the band 69, two endless spring bands are provided, and are arranged to move so that the surface speeds of the bands 69 and 10 are substantially the same, the bands 10 being. provided to control the severed lengths on the band 69 whilst they are being delivered by the band 69 to a position at which they are engaged by a conveyor 12 shown as a rotatable wheel having projections H. The rotatable wheel I2 is carried by a sleeve 2'|2,which is rotatable about a fixed shaft 213. To the sleeve 212 there is connected a gear wheel 214 which engages with a toothedwheel 202 described below. The projections H are arranged to move the severed lengths transversely to the direction in which they are moving as they leave the knife 44, and each severed length is moved by a projection over the surface of a guide 13 to a position at which the tobacco core is compressed lengthwise of the tubular wrapper enclosing the core in order to provide end portions In order to bring of wrapping material which may be folded to close the open ends of the tubular wrapper. The wheel conveyor I2 is rotated intermittently. At the position at which the tobacco core is compressed lengthwise of the tubular wrapper the severed length is engaged by a support shown as an angle piece I4 which engages two faces of a severed length. The angle piece I4 is carried by a spindle I5 and is moved into and out of the path of the severed lengths by means of a cam 76 secured to a shaft TI driven from the main drive of the machine. The spindle I5 is connected with the cam It by a link I8 and pivoted lever I9, and is controlled by a spring 80. The angle piece M is in the position shown in Figure 10 when a severed length is moved into position to be engaged by the angle piece, and the angle piece is lowered after the tobacco core has been compressed lengthwise of the tubular wrapper and before the projection II operates again to move the severed length. The guide It is brokenas shown in Figure 10 to enable the angle piece It to be moved into and out of position to engage the severed length. The upstanding part of the angle piece I l is provided with slots and the upstanding portions project through slots in the end portion of the guide 113 over which the severed length is moved after being comnressed lengthwise.

Whilst the severed length is engaged by the angle piece Ml it is also engaged by a transfer member BI having a stem 02 secured to a sliding member 03 which moves in a slide 0% formed in the wheel l2. A transfer member bl is, as will be seen from Figure 10, provided to co-operate with each of the projections ll and is movable in synchronism with and relatively to its co-operating projection ll. To each of the members W a roller is secured and moves in the track formed by a stationary box cam 86.: The cam M causes the transfer members ti to engage with the severed lengths when they are in the position in which they are engaged by the angle piece it, and it will be seen from Figure 10 that each side of a severed length is therefore engaged and supported whilst the tobacco core is compressed lengthwise of the tubular wrapper.

The mechanism for compressing the tobacco core lengthwise of the tubular wrapper is shown in Figures 9 and 13. The tobacco core is engaged by two oppositely disposed pressing elements 8! and 88 which are carried on spindles 89 and 90, and which are slidable in sleeves BI and 92 fixed to the frame of the machine. The pressing members 81 and 88 are moved towards and away from-each other to effect the compression of the tobacco core lengthwise of its tubular wrapper by means of pivoted arms 93 and 94 operated by cams 95 and 96. Springs 91 and 98 are provided to control the pressing members 81 and 88. As will be seen more clearly from Figure 13, the pressing members 8'! and 88 are provided on their side faces with recesses 99, the purpose of these recesses being to facilitate the compressing action of the pressing members. It will be seen from Figure 13 that the side faces of the'pressing members 81 and 08 slope towards each other so as to provide the members with a leadto facilitate their insertion into the open ends of the tubular wrapper. It is found that by using the recesses 99, a small portion of tobacco adjacent to the sides of the tubular wrapper project from the ends of the pressed tobacco core, and that with this arrangement the closing of the open ends of the tubular wrappers is facilitated.

when the tobacco core has been compressed lengthwise of its tubular wrapper, the angle piece M is moved out of the path of the severed length and the wheel 12 again rotated, thereby causing the projection ll engaging the severed length to move the severed length into a position at which the severed length is transferred into a pocket I00 of a second conveyor shown as a wheel IIlI fixed to a shaft 2M. Each pocket I00 of conveyor wheel IN is provided with a transfer member I02 movable relatively to the pocket, the transfer member being slidable in guides I03 formed in the wheel Illl, the transfer members Hi2 being held in position by frictional engagement with the guides I 03. When a severed length is transferred from a wheel I2 into a pocket It, the transfer element I02 is in the position shown in Figure 10, and as a transfer member 8| moves a severed length into the pocket llbll, the transfer member [I02 in that pocket is moved towards the bottom of the pocket to accommodate the severed length within the pocket. The transfer member ti when transferring a severed length from the wheel it into a pocket W0, is operated by a bell crank lever NM pivoted at ltd and operated by a cam Itt. The end Ifll of the bell crank lever llM engages with the roller t5 carried by the sliding member M. The transfer member tl, after it has transferred a severed length from the wheel i2, is returned to its normal position by the box cam M.

The conveyor wheel ml is intermittently rotated by means of a cam lllllt which carries a roller are arranged to engage in slots lit formed in the toothed wheel 2% fixed to shaft MI. The cam ltd is rotated by a gear wheel tilt which co-operates with a gear wheel 3% fixed on a shaft tilt, the shaft rm being rotated by gearing connected with the shaft ill.

The cam mt also operates a bell crank lever ill which carries a roller l i2 arranged to engage in a slot H0 so as to lock the wheel whilst it is not being rotated.

The wheel I0|l moves the severed length past folding mechanism which closes the open ends of the tubular wrapper, and past an adhesive applying device which applies adhesive to the folded end portions of the wrapper in order securely to close the open ends thereof. The sequence in which the open ends of the tubular wrappers are closed is shown clearly in Figures 15 to 19, the folds H3 being formed by folders ill connected with one arm II5 of a bell crank lever pivoted at I I6 operated by a cam I IT, a cam follower I I8 being secured to the arm H5. The

folds H9 are formed by folders I20 secured to arms I2I pivoted at I05 and operated by a cam I22. The folds II3 and H9 are formed whilst the severed length is in one position, and as the conveyor wheel IOI moves the severed length to the next position, stationary folders I23 are arranged to form the folds I24. The partly closed ends of the tubular wrapper now have the form shown in Figure 18, and before the remaining closure flap I25 is folded upwardly into engagement with the other folds to complete the closure of the ends of the tubular wrapper, a line of adhesive I25 is applied to the flap I25. The line of adhesive I25 is applied to the flap I25 by a 0 roller I21 having an adhesve applying surface engaged by an arm I3I of the bell crank lever, the other arm of which operates to form folds H3 and by this arrangement the cam II1 operates to form the fold II3 of one severed length and the fold I25 of another severed length simultaneously.

The conveyor wheel IOI carries the completed packages to a position at which the packages are removed from the pockets I00 of the conveyor and are placed on to the scale pan of a weighing mechanism. The weighing mechanism is shown in Figure 10, and will be described below, and the mechanism for transferring the completed packages from the pockets I00 to the scale pan of the weighing mechanism is shown in Figure 12.

As can be seen from Figure 12, two weighing mechanisms are provided, one being disposed on each side of the conveyor IOI. This arrangement of the weighing mechanism enables the machine to work at a higher speed than if only one weighing mechanism were used. The severed lengths are removed from the pockets I00 by package engaging faces I34 or I 35 connected with a rod I33 which slides in the frame of the machine. The package engaging faces I34 are arranged to transfer a package from the conveyor IOI into the scale pan of the weighing mechanism shown on the right of Figure 12, whilst the package engaging faces. I35 are arranged to transfer a package from the conveyor to the scale pan of the weighing mechanism shown on the left of Figure 12. The rod I 33 is operated by a link I36 connected with a pivoted arm I31 and with a block I32, the arm I31 having mounted thereon a cam follower I38 which engages with a cam I39. The arrangement of the package engaging faces I34 and I35 is such, that whilst one pair of faces is transferring a package from the conveyor IOI to the scale pan of a weighing device, the other pair of package engaging faces is, if the weight of the package is within the predetermined limits, transferring such package from the scale pan back to a pocket I00 of the conveyor WI. The package which is so replaced in the conveyor I 0| being moved thereby until it is in position above a conveyor I40, at which position it is ejected from the conveyor IM and delivered to the conveyor I40 which removes the package to any desired position. Whilst the package is on the scale pan, the package engaging faces which have transferred it to the pan are moved slightly by the cam I39 so that the package is not engaged by the package engaging faces during the weighing operation.

One of the weighing mechanisms is shown more clearly in Figure 10, and comprises a weigh beam I4I provided with knife edge suspensions, the weigh beam being carried by parallel link supports. Whilst a package is being moved on to or off of the scale pan, the weigh beam I is raised so that the knife edge I42 is lifted off of block I43, and this action is performed by an arm I44 engaging with a projection I45 secured to the weigh beam I4I engaging with two fixed stops I49 mounted on a supporting bracket 24!. The arm I44 is oscillated about its pivot I46 by cam I41, and the arm I44 moving the projection I45 against the pair of fixed stops I48 and causing the knife edge I42 to be raised from the block I43. When the knife edge I42 is raised as shown in Figure 10, the'scale pan I49 is held in a rigid position to enable the article engagingfaces either to place an article on the scale pan, or to remove one therefrom. To the weigh beam I there is secured a. selector plate I50 having faces I5I, I52 and I53. The face I52 co-operates with a selector I54 if the weighed article is within predetermined limits, whilst if the article is too heavy or too light, the selector I54 moves downwardly towards one or other of the faces I5I and I53. The selector I54 is carried by a bell crank lever I55 pivoted at I56, one end of the bell crank I55 being provided with a hook I51 which engages with a projection I58 secured to a chute I59, the chute being arranged to receive packages whose weight is not within the predetermined limits, and to deliver them to some point away from the point to which those packages whose weights are within the pre scribed limits are delivered. About the pivot I56 is also pivoted a further bell crank I60, one arm of which is provided with a catch I6I, the other being secured to a link I62 connected with a bell crank lever I63 pivoted about the pivot I46.

The bell crank lever I63 is operated by a cam I" and operates to release the catch I6I each time a weighing operation is effected. To dampen the oscillation of the weigh beam a dash-pot 344 of any suitable construction is provided. If, after a weighing operation the selector I54 rests on the surface I52 of the selector plate I50, the catch I51 holds the chute I 59 in position, but if, on the other hand, the selector plate has, after a weighing operation, been moved towards one or other of the faces I5I and I 53, the catch I51 releases the chute I59 and a cam I65 operates a lever I66 which is secured to the chute I59 and pivoted about a pivot I46. The cam I65 causes the chute I59 which is provided with a bridge 259 over which the package is passed when it is within the predetermined limits or is being moved onto a scale pan, to be moved out of the path of the package as it is transferred from the scale pan. The package is thereby prevented from being reinserted into a pocket I00 of the conveyor ml. The package falls into the chute I59 and is delivered as above stated to some suitable point. If. the weight of a package is within the prescribed limits, it is, as previously stated, moved from the scale pan into a pocket I00 of the conveyor I M, and the conveyor moves the package to a position at which it is ejected and transferred to the conveyor I40. At this position, the transfer member I02 is engaged by an ejector I61 pivoted about pivot I46 and controlled by a cam I68. The ejector I61 causes the transfer element I02 to move the package out of the pocket I00.

As will be seen from Figure 10, the shaft 11 is connected with gearing which serves to operate the cams I39, I41, I64, I65 and I68. The shaft 268 is rotated at one half the speed at which the shaft 11 is rotated because the weighing mechanisms are each dealing with one half of the packages carried by the second conveyor IOI.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A tobacco packagingv machine comprising means continuously to move a continuous tobacco core enclosed in a continuous tubular wrapper in a lengthwise direction, a cutting device to sever lengths from the continuous wrapped core, a conveyor moving at, a linear speed greater than that of the continuous wrapped core to receive the severed lengths and to fold the end portions of the tubular wrapper to close the open ends thereof.

2. A tobacco packaging machine comprising means continuously to move a continuous tobacco core enclosed in a continuous tubular wrapper in a lengthwise direction, a cutting device to sever lengths from the continuous wrapped core, a conveyor moving at a linear speed greater than that of the continuous wrapped core to receive the severed lengths and to space them apart lengthwise, a device disposed above saidlconveyor at a position adjacent the place at which the severed lengths are first received by the conveyor, said device coopcrating with the conveyor to grip the severed lengths as they pass from the cutting device and positively to position the severed lengths on the conveyor, means to engage a severed length and to compress the core lengthwise of the tubular wrapper, and means to fold the end portions of the tubular wrapper to close the open ends thereof. V

3. A tobacco packaging machine comprising means continuously to move a continuous tobacco core enclosed in a continuous tubular wrapper in a lengthwise direction, a cutting device to sever lengths from the continuous wrapped core, a consevered lengths and to space them apart lengthwise, a movable surface disposed above said conveyor at a position adjacent the place at which the severed lengths are first received by the con veyor, said movable surface cooperating with the conveyor, the cooperating surfaces being movable at substantially the same linear speed and in the same direction, to grip the severed lengths as they pass from the cutting device and positively to position the severed lengths on the conveyor, means to engage a severed length and to compress the core lengthwise of the tubular wrapper, and means to fold the end portions of the tubular wrapper to close the open ends thereof.

4. A tobacco packaging machine comprising means continuously to move a continuous tobacco core enclosed in a continuous tubular wrapper in a lengthwise direction, a cutting device to sever lengths from the continuous wrapped core, a conveyor moving at a linear speed greater than that of the continuous wrapped core to receive the severed lengths and to space them apart endwise, an endless band disposed above said conveyor and cooperating therewith, the cooperating surfaces of the endless band and the conveyor being movable at substantially the same linear speed and in the same direction to grip the severed lengths as they pass from the cutting device and positively to position the severed lengths on the conveyor, means to engage a severed length and to compress the core lengthwise of the tubular wrapper, and means to fold the end portions of the tubular wrapper to close the open ends thereof.

5. A tobacco packaging machine comprising means continuously to move a continuous tobacco core enclosed in a continuous tubular wrapper in a lengthwise direction, a cutting device to sever lengths from the continuous wrapped core, a conveyor' moving at a linear speed greater than that of the continuous wrapped core to receive the severed lengths and to space them apart lengthwise, means to receive the severed lengths from the conveyor and'to move the severed lengths transversely of their length, means to engage a severed length and to compress the core lengthwise of the tubular wrapper, and means to fold the end portions of the tubular wrapper to close the open ends thereof. I

6. A tobacco packaging machine comprising means continuously to move a continuous tobacco core enclosed in a continuoustubular wrapper in a lengthwise direction, a cutting device to sever lengths from the continuous wrapped core, a conveyor moving at a linear speed greater than that of the continuous wrapped core to receive the severed lengths and to space them apart lengthwise, means to engage a severed length and to compress the core lengthwise of the tubular wrapper, a support for each of the sides considered transversely of the length of the severed length during the lengthwise compression of the core, and means to fold the end portions of the tubular wrapper to close the open ends thereof.

'7. In a tobacco packaging machine the combination with a conveyor to move a succession of severed lengths lengthwise, of a member rotatable about an axis substantially parallel with the direction of movement of the lengths on the conveyor, a projection carried by said member and movable therewith to engage a side of a severed length to move the latter transversely ofl of the conveyor, a guide adjacent the path traversed by the projection to support a severed length, and an element movable with said member and relatively thereto to engage a severed length being moved by the member and to move the severed length out of the path of said member.

8. A tobacco packaging machine comprising means continuously to move a continuous tobacco core enclosed in a continuous tubular wrapper in a lengthwise direction, a cutting device to sever lengths from the continuous wrapped core, a conveyor moving at a linear speed greater than that of the continuous wrapped core to receive the severed lengths and to space them apart lengthwise, means to receive the severed lengths from the conveyor and to move the severed lengths transversely of their length, means to engage a severed length and to compress the core lengthwise of the tubular wrapper, a rotatable carrier having pockets to receive the severed lengths after the endwise compression has been eiiected, means operative upon the severed lengths in said pockets to fold the end portions of the tubular wrapper to close the open ends thereof, and means to eject completed packages from said pockets.

9. A tobacco packaging machine comprising means continuously to move a continuous tobacco core enclosed in a continuous tubular wrapper in a lengthwise direction, a cutting device to sever lengths from the continuous wrapped core, a. conveyor moving at a linear speed greater than that of the continuous wrapped core to receive the severed lengths and to space them apart lengthwise, means to receive the severed lengths from the conveyor and to move the severed lengths transversely of their length, means to engage a severed length and to compress the core lengthwise of the tubular wrapper, a rotatable carrier having pockets to receive the severed lengths after the endwise compression has been eflected, means operative upon the severed lengths in said pockets to fold the end portions of the tubular wrapper to close the open ends thereof, and an element disposed in a, pocket and movable elat v y thereto tQ eject a completed package from the pocket.

10. A tobacco packaging machine comprising means continuously to move a continuous tobacco core of substantially rectilinear cross-section enclosed in a continuous tubular wrapper in a lengthwise direction, a cutting device to sever lengths from the continuous wrapped core, a conveyor moving at a linear speed greater than that of the continuous wrapped core to receive the severed lengths and to space them apart lengthwise, means to engage a severed length and to compress the core lengthwise of the tubular wrapper, and means to fold the end portions of the tubular wrapper from the four sides of the end faces of the compressed core and into overlapping formation to close the open ends thereof.

11. A tobacco packaging machine comprising means continuously to move a continuous tobacco core of substantially rectilinear cross-section enclosed in a continuous tubular wrapper in a lengthwise direction, a cutting device to sever lengths from the continuous wrapped core, a conveyor moving at a linear speed greater than that of the continuous wrapped core to receive the severed lengths and to space them apart lengthwise, means to engage a severed length and to compress the core lengthwise of the tubular wrapper, means to fold the end portions of the tubular wrapper from the four sides of the end faces of the compressed core and into overlapping formation to close the open ends thereof, and means to secure the overlapping folds in position.

12. A tobacco packaging machine comprising means continuously to move a continuous tobacco core of substantially rectilinear crosssection enclosed in a continuous tubular wrapper in a lengthwise direction, a cutting device to sever lengths from the continuous wrapped core, a conveyor moving at a linear speed greater than that of the continuous wrapped core to receive the severed lengths and to space them apart lengthwise, means to receive the severed lengths from the conveyor and to move the severed lengths transversely of their length, means to engage a severed length and to compress the core lengthwise of the'tubular wrapper, a rotatable carrier having pockets to receive the severed lengths after the endwise compression has been effected, folding elements movable relatively to and in timed relationship with the rotatable carrier to fold the end portions of the tubular wrapper into overlapping formation to close the open ends thereof, and means to eject completed packages from said pockets.

13. A tobacco packaging machine comprising means continuously to move a continuous tobacco core of substantially rectilinear crosssection enclosed in a continuous tubular wrapper in a lengthwise direction, a cutting device to sever lengths from the continuous wrapped core, a conveyor moving at a linear speed greater than that of the continuous wrapped core to receive the severed lengths and to space them apart lengthwise, means to receive the severed lengths from the conveyor and to move the severed lengths transversely of their length, means to engage a severed length and to compress the core lengthwise of the tubular wrapper, a rotatable carrier having pockets to receive the severed lengths after the endwise compression has been efiected, folding elements movable relatively to and in timed relationship with the rotatable carrier to fold the end portions of the tubular wrapper into overlapping formation to close the open ends thereof, means to secure the overlapping folds in position, and means to eject completed packages from said pockets.

FELIX FREDERIC RUAU. 

